Abstract: A method for reducing foreign body response in a subject caused by an electrode implanted in a subject's neural tissue at a target site provides positioning a device having a body, ultrasonic transducer, and acoustic coupling medium in contact with the neural tissue proximate to the target site. The method continues with activating a transducer, generating acoustic vibrations, transmitting the acoustic vibrations to the neural tissue at the target site, and applying the acoustic vibrations to the neural tissue at the target site sufficient to reduce the foreign body response in the neural tissue at the target site. The acoustic vibrations are preferably in the ultrasonic range and are pulsed for a duration of 5-200 milliseconds. A treatment protocol may consist of repeat sessions in which the transducer is activated and the acoustic vibrations are applied for 1-15 minutes, then turned off for 1-15 minutes, and repeated 2-10 times.

Abstract: An assembly for reducing foreign body response in a subject caused by an invasive or non-invasive tissue injury at a target site. A base with aperture is secured to the subject in proximity to the target site with an implant extending therethrough. The base includes a sloped channel that receives an alignment tab of a housing, permitting vertical adjustment of the housing relative to the base along a continuum by rotation of the housing. The housing contains a transducer generating vibrations when activated, an acoustic horn in contact with the transducer transmitting the vibrations through the base aperture to the subject tissue at the target site, and a compressible polymer surrounding a portion of the horn at the terminal end of the housing that conforms to the subject's interface and transmits vibrations to the target site for reducing foreign body response or microgliosis in the subject.

Abstract: A device for reducing foreign body response in a subject caused by an electrode implanted in a subject's tissue. A base is secured to the subject, having a base aperture in proximity to the target site. The base can receive and align a body thereon. A body contains a chamber extending between a chamber aperture, aligned with the base aperture, at one end and a chamber opening at an opposite end. The chamber contains an acoustic coupling medium, such as polyvinyl alcohol cryogel, transmits acoustic vibrations from a transducer without altering their frequency. The transducer is mounted to the device and is configured to transmit acoustic vibrations into the chamber and through said acoustic coupling medium to the subject tissue at the target site, creating an acoustic field in the target site sufficient to reduce foreign body response in the subject where the electrode contacts the target tissue.